This is Thomas Bernhard's first novel, and at first it seems to be a rambling collection of grotesques in the manner of WINESBURG, OHIO. But then, after the insane industrialist and the boy in the cage, we reach the realm of the prince, and the novel takes off into the territory Bernhard explores in his later books -- that is, breathless, disjointed, almost-incoherent blocks of text. Note that I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing. Here it's wonderful. And although the prince's rant is quite exhausting, it's exhausting in a good way (I had to put the book down a few times during Molly's soliloquoy too, but that doesn't mean it's bad, just perhaps a bit demanding). An obvious choice for any Bernhard fan, and just possibly a good trick to play on someone, who will believe they're reading a naturalistic novel, until....

This book, Bernhard's autobiography, combines a series of five books published in German from 1976 to 1982.

The first chapter of this translation, on Bernhard's early childhood, was the last volume of the series. It shows the no-limits nature of Bernhard's childhood strivings and the criminal talent he had to separate his sense of joy from the desire of his mother and other caretakers that he should detest himself for not being there for them, for not praising them, and for not feeling shame and failure like they felt. It also shows how much he loved his grandfather.

The second chapter was the first volume. George Steiner wrote in 1985 that it's the best description of what it's like to be bombed in any language. Also, that it's untranslatable. It covers the 1943-46 period when Bernhard was btwn ages 12 and 15 in Salzburg, as Salzburg was being bombed by the Allies, and just after Austria's unconditional surrender. It expresses Bernhard's nightmarish state of mind then, and tells in journalistic style just what he saw.

The German version of these books is outrageously better than the English translation in this case --- even though in others such as Woodcutters, the same translator produced what I feel is as good a book in English or maybe better than the original. Maybe these autobiographical books really are untranslatable.

Still, this book is amazing. Not only is it true to the state of affairs. But it's also a classic fairy tale where Bernhard takes on the role of Luke Skywalker, his grandfather the role of Obi-Wan Kenobe, and the grocer who employs Bernhard a role of Yoda.

By unwittingly retelling the Star Wars story, this autobiography shows both the power of myth and one way the story of Nazism could become a useful cautionary myth, like one of Grimm's fairy tales, for the next millenium.

...

I bought this book for research on the world's fabulous gems. I'm glad I did.

The book just proves that man from early times onward has placed value on precious gemstones. The stories tell tales of greed, treachery, faith, and murder. A good starting place for those interested in gemstones and precious artifacts made of the rare minerals.

Concise, but solid information on the valuable technique developed by Prof. Hofbauer at the famous Viennese Medical school. Great!

Many people in the technology industry, especially when talking about IT/Operations or NMS infrastructures, say phrases like "reference architectures" and "best practices". What do they mean? Well, this book might not define these terms, but if you do pick it up and read it, you will be able to understand what the actual Best Practices surrounding the IT/Operations space are, especially for Service Provider or Enterprise environments. This book is the only material in it's class that even mentions things like the ITIL, ISO9000, TMN OAM&P, and Workflow Management. Nobody but the best implement this stuff, and I'm sure the Andersen Consulting, PWC, and E&Y people don't want the general public getting their hands on books like this one for reason of the market niche that have built upon so well.

I'm surprised that the authors didn't cover documentation or knowledge management, as well, with topics like SGML, DocBook, or similar - but they did cover pretty much everything else. This book is the "Mythical Man Month" of the NMS/OSS world.

If you are building New World methodologies, or even building a NOC at a startup tech company, this book is totally for you.

Berenson's classic study of Italian Renaissance painters is well worth seeking in used bookstores or through book-finding services. This collection of essays separately published between 1894 and 1907 focuses on the painters of Venice, Florence, central Italy, and north Italy. In intelligent, lively prose, the author not only analyzes the merit of scores of individual painters from Giotto to Correggio but also traces the development of Italian painting and constantly reiterates his theory that the "life enhancement" qualities of of high art are found in the areas of tactile values, movement, and spatial composition, all of which he explains in articulate detail. Movement and energy, for example, can be expressed in an arm leaning on a pillow. He correctly identifies the partnership in Florence between an intense desire for knowledge that helps to explain and control the world and the "discovery" of classical forms from ancient Rome. In painting, this led above all to a focus on the human figure (which Berenson claims as the ultimate subject of art) and a preeminent dedication to line. The intellectual rigor of Florence contrasted with Venice, the voluptuous capital of a wealthy mercantile empire distinguished by public rituals, where spectacle and color were the chief aims of art. Berenson's authority ranges through landscape, the uses of antiquity, Illustration and Decoration, prettiness versus beauty, and archaic art, whose appeal lies in its search for form and movement. The book is sparsely illustrated, so you will have to supplement it with your own visual sources, but it's a goldmine of information, useful perspectives, and thought-provoking opinions.

Bischoff is one of the greatest and ablest scholars for such a work. The volume's 289 pages gives a good overall picture of the Latin scripts in the period covered. Very good facsimiles of actual manuscripts accent the text. Though not acid free (apparently), the paper is very fine and the paperback seems sturdy. It has all of the necessary indexes, including MSS referred to, but no index of Latin terms within the text. Bischoff could have devoted more space to ligatures and tachyography at least the topic is not ignored. The representations of the various scripts are clear, and the volume is well referenced. It is most likely the best text on Latin palaeography for this period of Latin. The price is also right. Mr. Gary S. Dykes (Sept. 1999)

Ably translated by Carol Scherer and edited by Karl Schleunes, Legislating The Holocaust: The Bernhard Loesener Memoirs And Supporting Documents is the direct, recorded testimony of Bernhard Loesener. This is the man who personally drafted much of the legislation that disenfranchised and dehumanized the Jews of Nazi Germany. He also kept the minutes of inter-ministerial conferences concerned with the "Jewish Question." In 1950, Bernhard Loesener penned a memoir in which he sought to explain and justify his actions, as well as professing his horror of the Final Solution to which he so thoroughly and directly contributed. First published in 1961, Loesener's memoir has never appeared in English until now. Also included are an introduction and lengthy notes by editor Karl A. Schleunes, as well as Loesener's testimony before the Nuremberg Tribunal. An invaluable contribution to Holocaust studies and reference collections, Legislating The Holocaust is a stark and revealing insight into the banality of evil, and the bureaucratic mechanics of facilitating mass murder.

This is the most important book yet published in English on Carolingian manuscripts, although the price is ridiculous for a 193-page volume! I will try to get CUP to bring out a paperback edition. --Michael Gorman

Lohse has done the church an invaluable service by providing this overview of Luther's theology. In the first part of the book, the author sets the stage for the remainder of the study with some preliminary chapters delaing with issues such as the historical and theological situation in the early sixteenth century and Martin Luther's early life.

The second part of the book is the most helpful in that it traces the development of Luther's thought historically in the context of his many debates, disputations and conflicts. From his marginal notes in Augustine to his debates with the antinomians, Lohse provides a good understanding of how Luther's thought took its final form.

The third part of the book attempts to approach Luther's theology from a more systematic perspective, dealing with it topically. It is divided into chapters on sola scriptura, reason and faith, sin, justification, the church, etc. Lohse provides some crucial insights into Luther's views on each of these doctrines in this section. The book concludes with a brief appendix on Luther's attitude toward the Jews - an important addition at the close of the twentieth century.

This book should be the standard reference on the theology of Luther for years to come.